St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-16
Eighteenth Annual .Anniver-
sary of the Second Mime
sofa Volunteer Infantry.
A New Constitution Adopted
and Officers Elected for
the Coming Year.
Eloquent Words by the Son
Of the Old Colonel Of
the Regiment.
Roster Of the Regiment
"reminiscences Revived
Around the Camp Fire.

Since 1870 the veterans of the old Min
hesota Second volunteer infantry have
met together year after year, and yes
terday they came together again to cele-
brate their eighteenth annual reunion.
Gen. j. W. Bishop, as usual, presided,
and called the veterans together at 2 p.
m. in the basement of the chamber of
commerce building. a camp fire had
been enjoyed informally during the fore
noon, but the afternoon meeting was de-
voted to business almost altogether, save
the patriotic address of the occasion,
and some few appropriate speeches.
There was the customary roll call, and
as each soldier came forward, Gen.
Bishop presented him with printed
copy of the official records of the regi-
ment, the compiling of which is due to
the pains of Gen. Bishop. This pamphlet
contains accounts, reports and musterS
pertaining to the part the Second took
in the battles of Mill Springs, Chicka-
manga and Mission Ridge. is singular
that in the muSter-Out of the commits,
stoned officers, July, 1865. appeared the
names of only three of the original
officers.
The following letter to Gen. Bishop
from Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosencrans. ex-
member of congress from California,
and present register of the United
States treasury was read:
DEAR CoMRADE: remember the Second
Minnesota very well. and am a witness to its
gallantry, patriotism and courage. have
good reason TO remember it gratefully Please
present my best wishes to the assembled
comrades and tell them thatif duty permitted
| should enjoy nothing better than to be at
ST. Paul at the reunion on the 18th inst. The
pamphlet record of the regiment has come to
hand and revlyes many lively memories of
the Seconds fighting and staying qualities.
My warmest good wishes to each comrade of
the regiment. Very truly yours,
W. S. RoSENCRANs.
Letters from Gen. III. P. Van CleVe,
of Minneapolis, and war correspondent
III. Y. Boynton, and kilograms from
Col. T. Van Derveer, commander of the
brigade, and Capt. E. A. Otis were also
read.
a new constitution and bylaws were
adopted yesterday. The officers elected
for the ensuing year are: President,
Capt. George Shuman, of Minneapolis;
secretary. Capt. A. r. Kiefer, st. Paul;
treasurer, John Gibbons, St.Paul. Capt
a. Ill. Reed, of Glencoe. was selected to
deliver the annual address at the next
reunion. which is to occur during fair
week of 1885. but the exact date of which
is left with the president and secretary.
Resolutions in memory of the late
James Brennan, of Company F.. and
James II. Spencer, of Company E, and
of sympathy with their relatives and
friends, were adopted on the report of
committee consisting of Capt. Joseph
Burger, of st. Paul, E. E.. Corliss, of
Fergus Falls, and Benjamin f. Cole, of
Minneapolis. "A committee consisting
of Capt. Reed, of Glencoe, Capt. Dona-
hover. of st. Peter, Capt. Over, of Chat
field, J. ]. CaSSiday and CIV. Root was
appointed toeproyide a suitable head
Rochester, of the commanding officer of
the regiment, Col. James George, who
died five years ago.
THE ANNUAL ADDRESS. -
Gen. Bishop then called upon Edward
George, a well-knOwn young attorney of
CrookStOn, and the son of the late Col.
James George. commander of the regi-
ment, for the speech Of the occasion,
who delivered the following brief pa
triOtic address and was heartily ap-
plauded:
Veterans of the Second Minnesota volun-
teer infantry: Perhaps there.is no grander
spectacle, no sight better calculated to
awaken admiration@and- perpetUate feelings
of loyal patriotism than that which is pre-
sented by the reunion of our veteran SOL
diers Under the same sun. under the same
blue canopy, under the same emblem of Tree
dom they assemble annually all over our
broad land, each evolving the same ideas,
each thinking the same thoughts, each en-
gagged as we are to-day with memories of the
same great event. No political band, no Sec
ti9}nal bar, no sectional barrier, no creed, no
color, no condition intervenes to prohibit
the union veteran from grasping the hand
of his cemrade in unanimity and friendship
They assemble as a harmonious whole, and
as a unit meet on the broad platform of fra
ternity and feaity. Nor does it excite our
wonder when we consider the relation that
the soldier sustains to his comrade and his
country. in no phase of life does true man.
hood stand out in as bold relief and who but
the soldier can feel that the DESTINY of the
country is in his hands? Where does the true
spirit shine as on the dreary march, the
dreary bivouac and the Observation-Disclosures and
where is grander sight than that which
the soldier sees in the smiles of a grateful
country?
Veterans. a little over century ago there
was entrusted to your keeping by your fore
fathers this land. now so famed in history
and song. They had wrenched it from the
hand OF the tryant, and by their valor had
freed themselves from the fetteEs of bond
age, and when they placed it III your hands
they said: My children, this is your. heri-
tage. Its principles are: Eternal enmity to
all tyranny over the minds of men; that all
Creator with certain inalienable rights: that
together you stand, divided you fail" and
well has the trust reposed in you been dis
charged, for, save occasional mutterings of
dissension, nothing occurred to interrupt the
continued peace and prosperity until April
1861. when the black cloud of treason spread
like deadly miasma over the face of our
country, and you saw the harbinger of disso-
luton floating in the air and heard it in the
passing breeze.
But the storm has passed; 1t has spent its
fury, and on the rainbow that has succeeded
it you behold your birthright intact, your flag
sustained and your Union undivided. Real
1Zing this as you do. is it strange that your
minds should revert TO those scenes of a
quarter of Il century ago which have so indiS-
sollubly bound you together, and that you
forget the present and live in the past when
you meet your comrades to-dayf Once again
you are standing in the early morn OF the
great national conflict. You behold every
where those unmistakable signs of the pend
ing crisis; you see the stormy petrol OF. war
lowering over your flag; once again youhear
the call of your country for aid; once again
you are parting with the loved ones at home
and severing those. ties so near and dear
Full well do those left behind know thatth
may never again see those manly forms, and
full well do all know that none can tell
where the shaft of death may STRIKE We fol-
low you through the long and bloody contest;
we see you at Mill Springs Corinth, Perry
and Kenesaw, and when the confederate
forces have finally suceumbed. and the prin-
ciples of our Union have triumphed we see
you returning to. your homes, but how I'M
like the proud array that went forth.
Though triumphant how .mournful; how
sADDENED YOUR HEARTs
by that experiencethe soldier alone can feel
Slowly and sadly you return to your homes
and we hear the voices: = -
''Is my brother here?' khTF ~
''He was with US when we made the charge
at Mill Springs, but have not seen him
since" Sc sass tff9EF
when will my father come homer Fri
'Silent and alone laid your father to rest
in his lonely sepulchre at Mission Ridge.